Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Spend an afternoon discovering art and meeting local artists when more than 25 La Manzanilla artists open their studios to the public Sunday, January 30, 2011 at the third annual La Manzanilla Art Walk/Open Studio. This free and self-directed tour starts at 10:00 am and continues through 4:00 pm. For more information and to download the map follow this link La Manzanilla Art Walk

Ed Gilliam, an internationally known artist now residing in Melaque, Jalisco, Mexico, recently had a showing of his works at the "Galeria" in La Manzanilla. Ed is also a famous muralist and his lartest mural can be seen at the "School, Medical, Alberque" project in Pinal Villa. That work was a 4 month labour of love, depicting the lives of the Mixteca migrant workers here in Cihuatlan. Thanks Ed for that incredible mural.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Getting close to the Rodeo and Gringo Day in La Manzanilla. It's always the first week in Feburary so looks like it will start on the 4th or 5th. I would check on the La Manzanilla message board for the exact day of the rodeo.

Mark your calendars, dust off your hat, and polish your boots! Fiesta time in La Manzanilla is just around the corner! Gringo Day is Day One - Saturday February 5th - of Fiesta La Manzanilla. This is the first of 2 days of fun, food, beer, dancing, bull riding (for the experts), powerfully tasty punch, and lots of music in the air. Gringo day is sponsored by all of us ex-pats (Gringo types) who regularly visit La Manzanilla while our Mexican townsfolk/hosts attend the reception free of charge.

A Bit of History:

It is said to be the 101st Anniversary Year of the Revolution that resulted in land ownership for the common man. Even the smallest villages throughout Mexico traditionally hold a Fiesta de Toros to celebrate their emancipation ‘way back when’ from Spanish landowners. Individual fiestas coincide with the date their Ejido was formally enacted, giving the people management of the land on which they’d previously been, basically, slaves. La Manzanilla’s anniversary of this original Ejidal formation is February 6th. This year they have planned a two day celebration which begins with “Gringo Day”, the day when expat residents of La Manzanilla sponsor the day as a way of saying ‘Thank you’ to our Mexican townsfolk for their hospitality and forbearance and the Ejido Day on February 6th.

A Day at the Fiesta:

There is a midday meal of birria served about 2 PM in the casino while the banda plays and people dance. About 4 PM everyone follows the Banda down the road out to the rodeo grounds for events like dancing horses, bull riding, and the banda, of course, with lots more to eat and drink. This goes on until darkness falls and everyone returns to town to revive themselves for the big dance. It takes place in the Casino and begins after 9 PM and goes on into the night. On the morning of the Ejido Day, you will hear the Banda rev up very early - still dark! - as they prepare to visit former Ejiditarian notables.

More on Gringo Day:

Each ticket costs 180 pesos and this gets you to both the Birria luncheon at ±2 PM, Saturday, Feb 5 at the Casino and the events at the rodeo grounds from ±4PM - dusk. Be sure to keep your ticket intact until darkness falls on Feb 5th.

We are always looking for help in dishing up the grub so if you can lend a hand and a serving tray at 2 pm on Saturday, February 5, we can sure use your assistance. Don’t forget your apron.

At this time, tickets (180 pesos) are for sale at these locations around town, Mexican Property Resources (formerly Santana), Helping Hands bookstore, the Club, and from individual ticket venders. T-shirts: both men’s and women’s styles are available again this year at the locations noted above for a mere $100 pesos. or you can buy a T-shirt and a ticket for $250 while T-shirt quantities last... oooh-ee, ... such a deal!

Farola:

You'll also want to be at the square after dark on Friday Feb. 4th when a walking group of musicians will help kick off opening night. The strong youth of the town (and a few oldsters, too) take turns spinning the Farola - believe me, it's not light-weight - and leading the banda around the square, down Maria Asuncion to the Casino and back for more dancing at the square. Truly a social event not to be missed. We must also mention the powerfully tasty punch, made by women that afternoon under Lupita’s instruction, which will be available.

Day two is EJIDO DAY, the town’s anniversary on Sunday, Feb 6, when all are welcome to sample the birria courtesy of the town’s Ejido at the 2 pm reception in the Casino. This day usually features Mariachis in addition to the hardworking banda. Lots more fun to be had.

La Manzanilla, a village of approximately 1,500 indigenous and winter residents, is located in the southwest corner of the state of Jalisco along what is known as Costalegre (Costa Alegre) or the "happy coast".